Message from the Premier of the British Virgin Islands Following Hurricane Irma's Impact

Statement from Dr. The Honourable D. Orlando Smith OBE

Thursday, September 14, 2017 —
The world is now aware of the destruction caused in the BVI by Hurricane Irma, a record category 5 hurricane. Like all of us, I am heartbroken by the loss of homes and businesses but above all the loss of life the hurricane has wrought.

We are a resilient people but this has shaken us to our core.

However, I want to reassure people that whilst the situation across our islands is critical and will remain so in the coming weeks, firm steps have been taken to alleviate some of the immediate pressures. The arrival of the RFA Mounts Bay together with air support has brought in significant assistance from the UK including marines and engineers as well as medical support, food and other supplies. This means we can start the process of getting the territory secured; assess how to bring power and water back online and improve access and communications to the BVI.

While the immediate focus is on these humanitarian needs we will also turn attention to our economy. The damage to the territory has been widespread but it has not been total. Some offices belonging to the business and finance sector survived as did the Financial Services Commission which houses other services such as the corporate registry.

We have already started working with the private sector to ensure the business and financial services sector is able to function in good time. Many overseas offices have come together to support the BVI and work out the best way of continuing to provide vital business services remotely until the BVI is in a position to bring them substantively back on Island. We are incredibly grateful for the contribution they are making and the efforts being made to help this part of the BVI economy get back on its feet.

Tourism is of course much more dependent on facilities in the BVI and it will take time for us to be in a position to welcome tourists again. However, we are in close touch with our partners in the cruise and hotel industry and of course our tourism colleagues based overseas. We will continue to provide updates as we move forwards.

Having said this, rebuilding an entire territory is no small undertaking.

A comprehensive economic package for reconstruction backed by the UK Government will be needed over the long-term in order to return to normalcy. Yet I have every confidence that through the resilience of the people of the BVI and the support of our British partners we will achieve this. I look forward to hearing more from the UK Government about its plans for working with us to ensure this happens in timely fashion.

I also have a message for those observing from overseas. Whilst the BVI has been severely impacted over the last few days, we will bounce back. We are a proud nation. We may be momentarily down, but we are certainly not out.

About The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is an International Organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance among independent and non-independent countries in the Eastern Caribbean. The OECS came into being on June 18th 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries signed a treaty agreeing to cooperate with each other while promoting unity and solidarity among its Members. The Treaty became known as the Treaty of Basseterre, so named in honour of the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis where it was signed. The OECS today, currently has ten members, spread across the Eastern Caribbean comprising Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Martinique.